Musical box movement

ABSTRACT

A music box movement for playing a musical score provided in a tape or band in the form of perforations therein. The members required for playback or sound-reproduction of the tape are arranged in parallel manner on a horizontal die-cast base frame so that the movement can be incorporated in a jewel-box or the like.

United States Patent Komatsu et a1.

[ 1 Sept. 12, 1972 [54] MUSICAL BOX MOVEMENT [72] Inventors: FumitoKomatsu; Goro Adachi, both of Nagano, Japan [73] Assignee: KabushikiKeisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho, Suwa-gun, Nagano, Japan [22] Filed: Dec.27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 212,164

301 Foreign Application Priority um Dec. 25, 1970 Japan ..45/140554 [52]US. Cl ..84/101, 84/97 [51] Int. Cl ..Gl0f U015 [58] Field of Search..84/94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 101

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 624,655 5/1899 Jacot ..84/98657,096 9/1900 Diezemann ..84/98 3,470,784 10/1969 Shiina ..84/101FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 70,822 3/1892 Germany ..84/97 11,1609/1895 Sweden ..84/101 Primary Examiner--Richard B. Wilkinson AssistantExaminer-John F. Gonzales Attorney-Eric H. Waters et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A music box movement for playing a musical score providedin a tape or band in the form of perforations therein. The membersrequired for playback or soundreproduction of the tape are arranged inparallel manner on a horizontal die-cast base frame so that the movementcan be incorporated in a jewel-box or the like.

16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures llllll PATENTEDSEP 12 m2 sum 3 or 4PATENTED SEP 12 m2 SHEEI '4 [1F 4 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thepresent device relates to improvements in a music box movement forplaying a band or tape having perforations therein and corresponding toa melody.

An object of the invention is to provide a music box movement in whichthe mechanical components required for sound reproduction of the melodyon the tape are assembled in a compact manner to allow the musical boxto be built in a jewel box or the like.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a music boxmovement for playing a musical tape, comprising a die-cast horizontalframe having a guideway for said musical tape, a reed plate arranged onsaid guideway, and means comprising a set of pinned discs and a pressureroller opposite said pinned discs, the arrangement being such that whenthe tape is inserted in said guideway and moved forwardly through saidpinned discs and pressure roller the perforations in said tape mayengage the pins on said pinned discs to cause the pins to engagecorresponding reeds on the reed plate and produce the melody on thetape.

Other advantages, features and objects of the invention will become moreapparent from the following description taken in connection with anillustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of amusic. box incorporating a music box movement according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly-broken away and insection, forillustration of the interior arrangement of the music box movement;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in section of said movement;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a disc and a spacer element employed inthe movement;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure roller;

and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the discs and roller explanatory of theoperation of the music box movement according to the present device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawing is shown a die-cast horizontal frame1 supporting a seat portion 2 on which a reed plate 3 is secured by ascrew 4 in parallel relation to the frame 1. A flat plate 6 is arrangedabove the reed plate 3 in substantially parallel relation with thelatter and the plate 6 is secured by a screw 5 to the frame 1. Arrangedabove the fiat plate 3 is an alignment member 7 which provides ahorizontal guideway 9 for a musical score tape a. The horizontalguideway 9 opens at its left end into a funnel-shaped inlet 8 and itextends at its right end to a 1 and a plurality of discs 14 are mountedon the shaft 13.. Each disc 14 has four circumferentially spaced,

radially extending pins 14'. The discs 14 are supported in juxtapositionon the shaft 13 for relative rotation, and a plurality of resilientspacer discs 15 made of a synthetic resin are fixed on shaft 13 suchthat discs 15 are each interposed between two adjacent discs 14 so as tomaintain the discs 14 with a fixed spacing corresponding to the spacebetween any two adjacent staff lines on the musical tape. The roller 10is arranged such that the circumferentially spaced pins 14' contact thereeds of the reed plate 3 upon rotation of the roller. The discs 15frictionally engage the roller 10 and the discs 14, and the frictionalengagement between the discs 14 and the spacer discs 15 is determinedsuch that, when no resistant force is applied to the discs 14, therotation of the shaft can produce rotation of the pinned discs togetherwith the spacer discs, however, when a force due to absence of theperforations, or the member 7 is applied to the pinned discs, thesepinned discs are prevented from rotating together with the shaft orspacer discs.

The pressure roller 11 is provided on its periphery with axially spacedannular grooves 16 forming a plu- -rality of axially spaced annularlands 17. The pressure roller 11 is positioned so that its annulargrooves 16 are each opposed to the pins 14' on the discs 14 while itsannular lands 17 are interdigitated between discs 14 and each makescontact with the spacer discs 15. The pressure roller 11 is made ofelastic material. The shaft of the roller 10 and the shaft of thepressure roller 11 are provided with respective gear wheels 18 and 19which are in mesh with one another. The gear wheel 18 is operativelyconnected to a reduction gear mechanism 20 driven from a motor M.

A portion of the shaft 13 of the roller 10, on which the gear wheel 18is to be fitted, is partially cut away at 13' to provide a substantiallyrectangular profile in cross section as shown in FIG. 7. On the otherhand, the center bore 18' of the gear wheel 18 has a cross-sectionalprofile which is similar to that of the shaft portion 13' but wider thansuch portion. Thus, the shaft 13 of the roller may rotate with respectto the gear wheel 18 through a fixed angular range. It will beunderstood that the rotation of the gear wheel 18 causes the roller 10to commence rotation with a predetermined time delay.

Mounted on the frame 1 is a switching mechanism S which comprises astationary contact element 21, and a movable contact element 21' facingthe stationary contact element. the movable contact element 21 isextended along the guideway 9 to the center of a vertical line passingthrough the axes of rollers 10 and 11.

The alignment member 7 has transversely spaced lugs 22 which arerespectively pivotally supported in V- shaped notches 23 provided at therearmost ends of the side walls 12.

The alignment member 7 is provided with a comblike free end 24, and aplurality of plate portions 25 extended forwardly and downwardly at aparticular angle from the remainder of the alignment member. Thealignment member 7 is positioned so that its comb-like free and 24overhangs the roller 10 in a cantilever manner while the plate portions25 extend into recessed portions 26 in the plate 6. The alignment member.7 is normally urged downwards by the action of a U-shaped spring 27which extends across the side walls of the frame above the alignmentmember 7. The comb-like free end 24 of the alignment member 7 normallyrests on the roller 10 to block movement of the pins 14' and therebyprevent the discs 14 from undergoing rotation. The discs in thiscondition are in a common angular position with a respective pin inabutment with free end 24.

Referring further to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 28represents a bearing made of resilient material arranged at each sidewall 12 of the frame 1.

The bearings 28 support the opposite ends of the.

shafts of rollers 10 and 11 so as to resiliently urge the shafts towardsone another.

Preferably the reed plate 3 is arranged in a slightly inclined attitudewith respect to the horizontal as shown in FIG. 3 in phantom lineswhereby the reeds of the reed plate engage the pins 14 of the discs 14with a larger contact orengaging area to reduce the wear of the pins.

The operation of the music box will be hereinafter described in detail.

Upon-insertion of the musical tape a into the entrance port 8 of thetape guideway 9, the leading end of the tape moves the plate portions 25upwardly, the latter having been positioned in the tape path. Theleading end of the musical tape is then further advanced and nippedbetween the pressure roller 11 and roller 10. When the plate portions 25are pushed upwardly by insertion of the tape, the alignment member .7undergoes a swinging movement around the pivot supports at notches 23against the opposition of the force of the spring 27. Thus, the discs 14are freed from contact with the comb-like free ends 24 of the alignmentmember to become freely rotatable.

Thereupon, the leading end of the tape moves the movable contact element21' upwardly towards its opposed stationary contact element to close theswitch S which in turn closes an electric circuit for energizing themotor M. Both the roller 10 and pressure roller 11 are driven inrotation from the motor M through the reduction gear mechanism wherebythe musical tape is advanced between the roller 10 and the pressureroller 11 so that the perforations in the tape engage the pins 14' onthe discs 14 to cause the discs to rotate whereby the reeds arecontacted by the pins 14' on the pinned discs 14 to play the melody.

More specifically, the discs 14 are disposed one for each It line on thetape, and the angular positions of the discs 14 are such that one of thepins 14 of each thereof is located to engage a perforation in thecorresponding staff line in the tape when the perforation passesthereover. Thereupon, the disc is rotated through 90 so that the nextpin is ready to engage the next perforation. In the course of rotationof the discs a corresponding sound is produced by the associated reed.By placement of the positions of the perforations on the lines of thetape and adjustment of the sound values of the reeds, a melody can bereproduced. It is to be understood that when no perforation appears fora particular disc, the tape passes over such disc without producingrotation thereof.

From FIG. 7, it will be seen that there is no danger that the travel ofthe musical tape may be impeded by the discs since the pins on the discscan pass through the respective annular grooves 15 in the pressureroller.

When the trailing end of the musical tape finally passes the plateportions 25, the plate portions 25 are moved downwardly into therecessed portions 26 whereby the alignment member 7 undergoes downwardswinging movement to its initial position so that the comb-like free end24 of the alignment member is brought into engagement with .the pins 14'of the discs 14 to block rotation of the discs. Thereafter, when thetrailing end of the tape passes from the movable contact element 21',the motor M is de-energized and the discs are kept in aligned angularposition in which the pins 14' are abutted against the comb-like freeend of the alignment member. The musical box movement is now ready forintroduction of another tape.

In accordance with the present invention, the horizontal die-cast baseframe is parallel with the parts or members required for play-back orsound reproduction of the tape, such parts including the reed plate,guideway for the tape and the combination of the pressure roller andopposed roller with pinned discs for receiving and advancing theinserted tape while making engagement of the pins with the perforationsin the tape and correspondingcontact with the reeds. Accordingly, suchmusic box may be-made with as little height as possible in order topermit it to be incorporated into a jewel box or the like.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particularembodiment, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that theinvention is capable of modification and variation within the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for producing sound in accordance with an arrangement ofperforations on at least one line in an elongate band, said apparatuscomprising a drive means for longitudinal advancement of said bandincluding a pair of rotatable rollers for advancing the bandtherebetween, a freely rotatable disc coaxially mounted with one of saidrollers and including radial pins positioned to engage perforations inthe band to produce rotation of the disc, and sound producing meansadjacent said disc for being contacted by said pins, when said disc isrotated, to produce sound.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the other of said rollers isprovided with an annular groove in which said pins are received duringrotation of said disc.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising means for driving therollers in rotation, and means for initiating drive of the rollersbefore the band has entered between the rollers.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising a plurality of said discsspaced along the axis of said one roller, means fixed to said one rollerand interposed between adjacent discs to axially position the discs andengage in pressure contact with the other roller to advance the bandtherebetween, said other roller having one of said annular grooves foreach disc.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means interposed betweenadjacent discs comprises spacer members, said other roller and spacermembers being made of elastic material.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said rollers are horizontallysupported and said sound producing means comprises a reed plate with areed for each disc.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein four of said pins are mountedon each disc at 90 intervals. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6comprising means defining a guideway for passage of said band to saidrollers, said reed plate extending substantially parallel to saidguideway.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 comprising alignment means forblocking rotation of said discs, and means in the guideway in the pathof travel of the band for acting on the alignment means to unblockrotation of the discs when the band is advanced in said guideway.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises adrive gear and means drivingly coupling said drive gear and said onerotatable roller with pre-determined limited angular free movementtherebetween.

11. In a music box for producing sound in accordance with an arrangementof perforations in an elongate band, said music box having a frame, ahorizontal shaft journalled in said frame for rotation, a plurality ofrotatable discs each including circumferentially spaced, radial pinsthereon, said discs being supported in juxtaposition on said shaft inrelatively rotatable manner, a plurality of spacer discs fixed on saidshaft between adjacent discs and in frictional engagement therewith, areed plate including reeds arranged in opposition to said discs so as tobe contacted by the pins on the latter, whereby travel of the band onsaid discs produces sound in relation to the location of theperforations, an improvement comprising a second shaft arranged inparallel relation to said horizontal shaft, a pressure roller mounted onsaid second shaft and provided with axially-spaced annular grooves forpermitting free movement therein of said pins on said discs, saidpressure roller including axially spaced annular lands interdigitatedwith said discs in opposition to said spacer discs to pinch said bandtherebetween, and means for driving at least one of said shafts inrotation to move said band.

12. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 comprising, means foractuating the driving means prior to the time when the leading end ofsaid band reaches between said spacers and said pressure roller, saidreed plate being arranged such that, when any one pin on a selected discis abutted against its corresponding reed, one additional pin on thesame disc is in the front of the center of said pressure roller wherebywhen the leading end of thetravelling band pushes said pin to touch thereed, the rotatable discs are rotated in unison by said driving means.

13. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 comprising a guideway for saidband extending perpendicularly to a plane passing through the axes ofsaid shafts, said reed plate being substantially parallel to saidguideway.

14, An improvement as claimed in claim 11 wherein the driving meanscomprises a gear wheel on said shaft with the rotatable discs with pins,said gear wheel being mounted on said shaft for a predetermined limitedangular free movement with respect to said shaft.

5. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 wherein said pressure rollerand spacer discs are both made of an elastic substance.

16. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 comprising means resilientlyurging said shafts against one another.

1. Apparatus for producing sound in accordance with an arrangement ofperforations on at least one line in an elongate band, said apparatuscomprising a drive means for longitudinal advancement of said bandincluding a pair of rotatable rollers for advancing the bandtherebetween, a freely rotatable disc coaxially mounted with one of saidrollers and including radial pins positioned to engage perforations inthe band to produce rotation of the disc, and sound producing meansadjacent said disc for being contacted by said pins, when said disc isrotated, to produce sound.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe other of said rollers is provided with an annular groove in whichsaid pins are received during rotation of said disc.
 3. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 2 comprising means for driving the rollers in rotation,and means for initiating drive of the rollers before the band hasentered between the rollers.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2comprising a plurality of said discs spaced along the axis of said oneroller, means fixed to said one roller and interposed between adjacentdiscs to axially position the discs and engage in pressure contact withthe other roller to advance the band therebetween, said other rollerhaving one of said annular grooves for each disc.
 5. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 4 wherein said means interposed between adjacent discscomprises spacer members, said other roller and spacer members beingmade of elastic material.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 whereinsaid rollers are horizontally supported and said sound producing meanscomprises a reed plate with a reed for each disc.
 7. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 6 wherein four of said pins are mounted on each disc at90* intervals.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising meansdefining a guideway for passage of said band to said rollers, said reedplate extending substantially parallel to said guideway.
 9. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 8 comprising alignment means for blocking rotation ofsaid discs, and means in the guideway in the path of travel of the bandfor acting on the alignment means to unblock rotation of the discs whenthe band is advanced in said guideway.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim1 wherein said drive means comprises a drive gear and means drivinglycoupling said drive gear and said one rotatable roller withpre-determined limited angular free movement therebetween.
 11. In amusic box for producing sound in accordance with an arrangement ofperforations in an elongate band, said music box having a frame, ahorizontal shaft journalled in said frame for rotation, a plurality ofrotatable discs each including circumferentially spaced, radial pinsthereon, said discs being supported in juxtaposition on said shaft inrelatively rotatable manner, a plurality of spacer discs fixed on saidshaft between adjacent discs and in frictional engagement therewith, areed plate including reeds arranged in opposition to said discs so as tobe contacted by the pins on the latter, whereby travel of the band onsaid discs produces sound in relation to the location of theperforations, an improvement comprising a second shaft arranged inparallel relation to said horizontal shaft, a pressure roller mounted onsaid second shaft and provided with axially-spaced annular grooves forpermitting free movement therein of said pins on said discs, saidpressure roller including axially spaced annular lands interdigitatedwith said discs in opposition to said spacer discs to pinch said bandtherebetween, and means for driving at least one of said sHafts inrotation to move said band.
 12. An improvement as claimed in claim 11comprising, means for actuating the driving means prior to the time whenthe leading end of said band reaches between said spacers and saidpressure roller, said reed plate being arranged such that, when any onepin on a selected disc is abutted against its corresponding reed, oneadditional pin on the same disc is in the front of the center of saidpressure roller whereby when the leading end of the travelling bandpushes said pin to touch the reed, the rotatable discs are rotated inunison by said driving means.
 13. An improvement as claimed in claim 11comprising a guideway for said band extending perpendicularly to a planepassing through the axes of said shafts, said reed plate beingsubstantially parallel to said guideway.
 14. An improvement as claimedin claim 11 wherein the driving means comprises a gear wheel on saidshaft with the rotatable discs with pins, said gear wheel being mountedon said shaft for a predetermined limited angular free movement withrespect to said shaft.
 15. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 whereinsaid pressure roller and spacer discs are both made of an elasticsubstance.
 16. An improvement as claimed in claim 11 comprising meansresiliently urging said shafts against one another.